Nightly Hockey Hits: Wild to name captain Tuesday, Bruins are excited about the lotto, Why the Flames should honour Al MacInnis, Nagging injuries mount for Carolina, Isles or Leafs – who wins first?

News from around the blogs:

• Russo’s Rants:  Captain to be named on Tuesday.  Will it be Koivu or Bruno?  Guess we will have to wait one more day to find out.
• Black Dog Hates Skunks:  Dustin Penner’s surprise play.  A bit of a long story (albeit interesting) before you get to the meat and potatos of his article but it seems like for whatever reason, Penner’s bringing it this season.
• Flames Insider:  Why Flames should honour MacInnis.  His slapshot alone is reason enough.  No question the Flames are making a mistake not hanging his jersey from the rafters.
  
• Mile High Hockey:  A little rain on the parade.  Interesting that they were at pretty much the same spot last season, and while I agree that they should not be buying playoff tickets just yet, the way Anderson is playing, who knows.
• The Triple Deke:  Looking at the Wings slow start.  Team still has a lot of new faces to get used to, but the standings should look differently in a month’s time.
• Working the Corners:  News from a sitdown with NHL brass: DirecTV-Versus update, league revenues are up and more.  Interesting insight and also interesting was leaving the door open for Balsillie.
• Defending Big D:  Goaltender controversy in Dallas?  Not anytime soon.  This is a problem most teams wished they had.
  
• T.O. Sports:  Maple Leafs could use help.  I think most importantly is that Leafs nation reduce expectations of a Cup parade and buy into Burke’s system for the next few years.
• The Hockey News:  Towering Tyler Myers quickly catching on to NHL game.  With the exception to the mistake he made against Maxim Afinogenov, he has looked very solid.
• Four Habs Fans:  Missing Kovy.  That entire video makes me think of Borat.  Can anyone translate?
• Hub Hockey:  B’s/Mass State Lottery announce Bruins scratch ticket.  While I will continue for the 200 million dollar powerball, winning Bruins tickets is kind of a cool lotto idea.  Looks like the Bruins will have two successful lotto ventures this season.
  
• PensBurgh:  Max Talbot practices, world shakes in anticipation.  What’s the hurry?  He is only really needed for his playoff prowess.
• Okposo Net:  Focusing on the positives.  All good points and since nobody expected the Islanders to be playoff bound this season, it is more important to focus on the smaller achievements.
• Canes Country:  Nagging injuries mount for Carolina.  Looks like fans in Carolina want Staal to only play once he is 100% healthy to practice.
• The Litter Box:  Feaster’s Lightning “not interested” in Tomas Vokoun.  He does have a tendancy to give up some weak goals.
  
• NHL Fanhouse:  Teams without a win.  Adam Gretz and Bruce Ciskie talk about the two teams without a win (the New York Islanders and Toronto Maple Leafs) and end up focusing on what’s wrong with the Leafs?
• Puck Daddy:  Puck Daddy in Vegas: 21 observations about hockey, gambling, new media journalism and Blogs With Balls 2.0.  Very interesting stuff, but where was my invite.  I am always happy to get to Vegas.
• NHL Rumours:  Monday NHL Rumour Notebook: Leafs haven’t contacted Shanahan, Kovalchuk update.  Sounds good for folks in Atlanta.